The first petitioner is a 'A' class contractor and the second petitioner is a 'B' class contractor. The petitioners were awarded with work by the 2nd respondent-Assistant executive Engineer as per Exts.P1 and P2 respectively. The petitioners submitted their bills on 16/9/2014 after completion of the work. On account of delay in disbursing the bill amount, the petitioners approached this Court. 2. It is submitted by the learned Government Pleader that the petitioners' bill received by the first respondent only on 17/10/2014 and, therefore, seniority can be reckoned only with reference to the date of receipt of the bills by the Executive Engineer.
3. In the above factual situation, I am of the view that since the petitioners submitted their bill on 16/9/2014, seniority shall be reckoned from the above date as the W.P.(c).No.28090 of 2014 : 2 :
administrative delay cannot be attributed to the petitioners. Therefore, there shall be a direction to the respondents to disburse the bill amount to the petitioners reckoning the seniority of the bill from 16/9/2014.
The writ petition is disposed of as above.
Sd/-
A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE, Judge.
dpk /True copy/ PS to Judge.
W.P.(c).No.28090 of 2014 : 3 :